The annual Barra, Essau & Mayamba Nawettan kicked off at the weekend in the North Bank Region town of Barra Sports Development Committee (BSDC) in the North Bank Region between hosts Iceland and Anaconda of Mayamba.

In a game that ended in stalemate, Iceland’s Adama Jangum was the player who came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half but his shot went straight at the Anaconda goalkeeper.

Chances were plenty in the second half but both sides opening each other’s defence line and Amadou Marong’s cross into Iceand found Amadou Krubally unmarked but his goal bound shot was thwarted by the keeper for a corner. Amadou Chorr’s fierce shot from the resulting corner was diverted for another corner by the Iceland defenders.

Towards the end of the game, they threatened again as Amadou Marong's fine cross into the Iceland box was met by the head of Ardo Senghore which just missed the post.

After the game Anaconda's coach, Alieu Boye spoke to Observer Sports’ Prince Albert Touray and hailed his side's wonderful performance. However he went on to say that his team though dominated the game, was handicapped, as they missed some key players. He promised his fans that come the next match they will see a different Anaconda side. For the Iceland coach, Alhagie Baba Senghore, he said his side suffered from a lack of teamwork but was quick to praise their opponents for the good performance.

Also speaking to this reporter, the BEM Sports Development Committee through its chairman, Lamin Faye appealed for the sponsorship of the ongoing Nawettan tournament. “We are urging for help; as you know this is a football area. If you look (carefully into our national teams), the likes of the U-17, U-20 you have players coming from here.

Even the senior team we have some players who are from here and they are good players. Every year we must have at least ten players who are going to play in the first division. We are playing this tournament without sponsors and so we are calling on companies to help us with sponsorship so we can better run the tournament,” he said.